DURATION : 15 NIGHTS / 16 DAYS (CONFLUENCE OF
THREE STATES)
DESTINATION COVERED : CHENNAI - MAHABALIPURAM - PONDICHERRY - TRICHY -
MADURAI - PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM - COCHIN - BANGALORE - MYSORE
DAY 01 ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai Airport by International flight. Meeting, assistance on
arrival and transfer to hotel and overnight.
DAY 02 CHENNAI
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Chennai.
The capital city, popularly regarded as the "Gateway to the South"
represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of Northern
India. The places of interest are Kalaksheta, a school of art and music
that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Caranatic Music, traditional
weaving and designing; Fort St.George built in 1653 during Birtish reign
in India - now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil
Nadu; St.Mary Church, the oldest Angelican Church in India with its
premise; Sri Parthasarthy Temple built by Pallavas in the 8th century
AD; Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore also an eight century Pallava Temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva; San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606
as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica; and Theosophical
Society - the world headquarters of the Theosophical Society formed to
encourage the study of comparative religion philosophy and science.
Afternoon at leisure & overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 CHENNAI-KANCHIPURAM-MAHABALIPURAM DRIVE 134 KMS
After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram enroute visiting Kanchipuram.
Kanchipuram - 70 km West of Mahabalipuram, this city of thousand
temples lies. One of the seven scared cities of Hindus, it was the
capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi
was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of
pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city
is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and
have given it an enviable reputation as the producer of the best silk
sarees in the country. Temple festivals are held throughout the year
apart from the Temple car (Ratha) festivals which are held in January,
April & May. Out of remaining 126 temples in Kanchi, the most
important are Ekambareswarar spread over in an area of 20 acres and has
a tall 58.5 south gopuram adorned with beautiful sculptures, Vaikunta
Perumal Temple, Varadaraja Temple, Kailasanathar Temple and Kamakshi
Amman Temple.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04 MAHABALIPURAM
Full day excursion to Mahabalipuram Temples.
Mahabalipuram - Driving South of Madras on the coastal lies
Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), the ancient port of Pallavas. The pallavas
have created many marvelous monuments with sculptural panels, caves,
monolithic rathas and temples. Krishna Mandapam, has a big base relief,
notable for its realistic representation. The world's largest bas relief
measuring 27 m x 9m, whale back shaped rock contains figures of gods,
demi gods, men, beasts, birds and representation of the entire creation.
Shore temple, one of the oldes in South dating back to 8th century AD is
a good example faith first phase of structural temples constructed in
Dravidian style. The Five Rathas, a group of five monolithic temples,
each created in different style.
DAY 05 MAHABALIPURAM-PONDICHERRY DRIVE 132 KMS
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Pondicherry.
Pondicherry - 162 kms from Madras situated on the Coromandel. It is the
French connection that made Pondicherry famous. Francois Martin, a
Frenchman, established the modern city of Pondicherry between 1672 and
1680 when most of the trade to Franc was through this port. Some of the
famous Frenchmen who ruled from Pondicherry were Dupleix, De Sufferin,
De Lally & Dumas. This quaint old town is also the place where Sri
Aurobindo, a well known philosopher, patriort and savant established his
Ashram.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06 PONDICHERRY-TRICHY DRIVE 243 KMS
After breakfast drive to Trichy via Kumbakonam, Swamimalai, Tanjore.
Kumbakonam - 36 km from Tanjore is famous for its four large temples
dedicated to Sarangapani, Kumbeshwarar, Brahma and Nageswarar. The very
important Mahamakham festival takes place at Mahamakham tank once in 12
years when it is believed that the waters of 9 sacred rivers flow into
the tank.
Tanjore - Lies 56 kms to the West of Trichy, one of the best temples in
South Indfia, the Brahadeeshwarar built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja
Chola, is the dynasty's finest contribution to the Dravidian temple
architecture. The 64.8 m tall, 14 tiered pyramid shaped vimanam rises
from a square base is topped by a huge monolithic cupola caved out from
81.3 tonne block of granite that was installed with the aid of a 6 km
long inclined plane. The Tower is a testimony to the engierring skill of
the Chola architects who planned its construction in such a way that the
shadow of the cupola never falls on the ground.
Swamimalai - 30 kms from Tanjore is one of the six abodes of Lord
Subramanya. Situated on a 30m high platform, it marks the spot where
young Subramanya explained to Siva, the meaning of Om which precedes
every Hindu prayer. Swamimalai is also famous for its sculptors. On
arrival check-in at hotel & Overnight.
On arrival check-in at hotel & Overnight.
DAY 07 TRICHY
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Trichy.
Trichy - The city of the Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri
river. Trichy's most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the
oldest in the world approximately 3800 million years. The attraction is
not for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of
rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd
century B.C.5 km from Trichy, located in an island is Srirangam.
Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acres island town enclosed
within the sevel walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There
are no less than 22 gopurams, one of the which is the tallest in India.
The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles
around.
Afternoon car at disposal & overnight.
DAY 08 TRICHY-MADURAI DRIVE 142 KMS
After breakfast drive to Madurai.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madurai which terminates witnessing night
ceremony at Minakshi Temple
Madurai - Known as Athens of the East, it is the second largest city on
the banks of the River Vigai. The city believed to be more than 2500
year old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that
fell from Shiva's locs when he came to bless its people for constructing
a temple for him. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant of hymns
is proud of magnificent. The Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its 12
gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple.
The 48.8 high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and have over
1500 sculptures. In the Astha Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi
temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of
Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva.
Ovenright at the hotel.
DAY 09 MADURAI
Full day excursion to Rameshwaram
Rameswaram - 167 kms from Madurai is connected to mainland India by the
Pamban bridge. The temple here is one of the grandest in the country
with the longest corridor (1220 m), the Ramanathaswami temple is built
at the spot where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva after he slayed Ravana, the
King of Lanka.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 MADURAI-PERIYAR DRIVE 160 KMS
After breakfast drive to Periyar.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Afternoon sharing boat cruise on Lake Periyar to see Periyar Sanctuary.
Periyar - Spread over an area of 777 sq.km, this sanctuary has about 35
tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a fortune
for one out of thousand. The park encompasses a 26 sq.km artificial lake
and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes which
can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise.
Periyar, otherwise, blessed by nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper
and cardamom plantations and is lush green.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 11 PERIYAR-KUMARAKOM DRIVE 114 KMS
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom.
On arrival check-in at hotel & overnight.
DAY 12 KUMARAKOM
Full day at leisure
Kumarakom - 64 kms from Cochin, it is another commercial center of
Kerala. Dotted with churches and covered with rubber plantations,
Kottayam is just 16 kms away from Kumarakom and Vembanand Lake. To the
city's west are delightful backwaters and to its east is the most
fertile and scenic part of the Western Ghats having rubber, tea, coffee,
pepper and cardamom plantations.
DAY 13 KUMARAKOM-ALLEPPEY-COCHIN
After breakfast backwater cruise from Kumarakom to Alleppey. Travelling
by boat on the backwaters in Kerala is one of the most unique
experience. The boats cross, shallow, palm-fringed lakes and travel
along narrow shady canals providing glimpses of small settlement on the
narrow land, shops, schools and trading on boat, lush green rice fields.
These canals are well connected between
Kottayam-Alleppey-Changancherry-Quilon & Kumarakom on the edge of
Asthamudi Lake. The delightful backwaters of Kerala begin from this
picturesque town.
Later drive Alleppey to Cochin 64 kms, check-in at hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin.
Cochin - Kerala's commercial center, it has a fine natural harbour.
Cochin (Kochi) gateway for Kerala is famous for Mattancherry (Dutch)
Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese
Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the backwaters provides
glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbour and three islands.
Evening sunset cruise in Cochin.
DAY 14 COCHIN-BANGALORE-MYSORE
After breakfast transfer to Cochin airport in time to board flight for
Bangalore.
Assistance upon arrival and proceed for sightseeing tour of Bangalore.
Bangalore - A modern, bustling city and an important industrial center,
is pleasant round the year. It is also one of India's mosr progressive
and liberal cities. Vidhan Soudha constructed of granite in the
noe-Dravidian style of architecture is one of the most spectacular
buildings. Cubbon Park, covers 120 hectres, laid out in 1864 is a
beautiful shady park, full of flowering trees. The Government Museum,
one of the oldest in India, established in 1886 and houses collections
on geology, art, numismatics and relics from Mohenjodaro, dating back
5000 years. Lalbagh covering 96 hectres was laid out in the 18th century
by Hyder Ali.
Later drive to Mysore enroute visiting Srirangapatnam.
Srirangapatnam - 16 kms from Mysore, is situated on the banks of
Cauvery River. Once the capital of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sulta, it is from
here that Tippu Sultan, in alliance with French, fought the British.
Inside the Fortress there is a Tippu's Mosque with its twin minarets.
The famous Ranganathaswammay temple is also at Srirangapatnam.
On arrival check-in at hotel for overnight.
DAY 15 MYSORE
After breakfast full day tour of Mysore and visit to Somnathpur.
Mysore - The seat of Maharaja of Mysore until independence is most
famous for Indo-Saaracenic Palace. Just south of the city is Chamundi
Hill, toped by an important Siva Temple. North of the city lie the ruins
of the fortress of Srirangapatnam, built by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.
To the east is the beautiful temple of Somnathpur while to the West,
below the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, are the Brindavan Gardens.
Somnathpur - 45 kms from Mysore is known for its Hoysala architecture.
Built in 1268 AD the temple is seated on a star shaped base, set on a
chiseled plinth and guarded at intervals by miniature elephants. The
temple wall depicts from Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagvata.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 16 MYSORE-BANGALORE
After breakfast drive to Bangalore airport for onward flight.
